CROATIA — More than 20,000 European church organs, especially those in poor Eastern European countries, are on the brink of extinction unless expensive repairs are made, according to a recent congress of organ experts.
Meeting last month in Croatia, the gathering of organists and organ builders said more than half of these priceless “musical works of art” are virtually beyond repair and may soon be unsalvageable.
“Churches and their contents, including church organs, are important elements of civilization and form part of Europe’s cultural heritage,” Wolfgang Braun, a master German organ builder, said. “European countries should not remain indifferent to the gradual disappearance of these beautiful historic monuments.”
The organs in the grand cathedrals and small churches of Europe served as the springboard for classical musicians such as Bach and Beethoven, and sacred and classical musical arts flourished under church sponsorship.
The costs for repairing a historic organ are staggering; labor and materials cost at least $66,000 per organ, and repair specialists need seven to eight years of experience to qualify as organ restorers.
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